I love Baci di dama (Lady’s kisses). And you? They are small tasty butter cookies halves paired together and filled with a drop of melted dark chocolate. They are so called, because their shape reminds two lips kissing each other. Perfect for breakfast with coffee or tea or after a meal, these are one of my favorites to give as gifts for Christmas.
This is a traditional Italian recipe, born in Piedmont (my region), which is famous for its hazelnuts, and Nutella of course.
Now let’s see together how to make them, so let’s get started.
Ingredients for Baci di dama
- 100 gtoasted hazelnuts ( 3,5 oz )
- 100 gall purpose (AP) flour (3,5 oz)
- 100 gbutter (cold – 3,5 oz )
- 100 gsugar (3,5 oz )
- 1 pinchsalt
For the filling
- 2 ouncesdark chocolate (50 g)
Tools
- 1 Baking Tray
- 1 Kitchen Robot
Directions
First, put the hazelnuts on a tray and toast them in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10 minutes.
Let them cool for a minute or two, then blitz them in a food processor with 4 tbsp sugar to fine crumbs. The sugar will help them not to become oily.
Then process flour, hazelnut flour, cold butter, a pinch of salt and sugar (remember to subtract the quantity of sugar you used for the hazelnuts) in a mixer at low speed until well combined.
Do not work the dough too much.
Take your dough, press into a flattened ball and wrap with plastic wrap. Refridgerate for at least 1 hour.
Don’t skip chilling the dough. This helps relax the dough and ensure it’s firm enough for rolling.
Once chilled, remove the dough from the fridge. Using your hands, pick up a small amount of dough and pinch it together. Roll it very lightly between the palms of your hands to form a small 1 inch sized ball
Place the balls on a lined baking tray then chill for 60 minutes in the fridge, or 30 minutes in the freezer.
Bake the cookies
Preheat the oven to 320°F (160ºC).
Bake Baci di dama in the oven for 16 minutes, until pale golden.
Remove from the oven. Cool for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool.
Remove from the oven and let them cool for at least 10 minutes (or more) before touching them as they’ll be very soft and they need to harden before filling.
To assemble
Meanwhile cooling, melt the dark chocolate on the stove (bain marie) or in the microwave.
Take one cookie and place a small amount of melted chocolate in the middle (around ½ teaspoon). Place another cookie on top and press them together to spread the filling out evenly.
Here they are!
Buon appetito!
Storage
You can store Baci di dama in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
You can substitute
– melted dark chocolate with Nutella cream or milk chocolate
– hazelnuts with almonds
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